Statewide positivity rate increasing

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 1,248 new COVID-19 in Alaska over the past week, an increase from the number of cases reported last week. That includes 205 new cases reported on Friday.

Fifty-three new cases were reported on the Kenai Peninsula over the past week, including 13 that were reported on Friday. Affected peninsula communities include Seward with six cases, Soldotna with six cases and Sterling with one case.

The state reported 22 new hospitalizations and no new deaths over the past week. On Friday, there were 42 people in Alaska hospitalized due to COVID-19, including three who were considered persons under investigation for the disease. Six of the patients were on ventilators, with the state’s total ICU bed availability having entered the “red” zone, according to DHSS data. 3.9% of all hospitalizations on Friday were due to COVID-19.

Statewide, the percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive, also called the positivity rate, is increasing. As of Friday, the statewide positivity rate was about 3%. That’s compared to about 2% in mid-February. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s rate was about 3.25% on Friday.

DHSS’ COVID-19 data dashboards can be viewed at alaska-coronavirus-vaccine-outreach-alaska-dhss.hub.arcgis.com.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.